After reinventing himself as a badass security specialist, an everyday schlub must become the badass he’s pretended to be in order to prevent his secret double life from being exposed.

SYNOPSIS:

Think Catch Me If You Can meets John Wick. The Merc blends high-stakes action with razor-sharp satire, delivering a thrilling and darkly comedic tale about the reinvention of identity and the lengths one man will go to in order to live his dream

Jackson Stone, the larger-than-life CEO of a global private security firm, is the picture of success: impossibly handsome, impeccably skilled, and endlessly resourceful. His reputation is built on legendary military exploits and daring covert operations, making him a trusted name among the rich and powerful. But Jackson Stone is a lie.

Fifteen years ago, he was Stanley Gerdling, an overweight, balding, and directionless security guard in Montana.

Tired of his dead-end existence, Stanley burned every bridge, sold everything he owned, and embarked on a grueling personal transformation. Through relentless physical training, deep research into military tactics, and the creation of a fake but convincing backstory as an elite operative, he became "Jackson Stone." Now, as the head of his own thriving company, Stone has everything he ever dreamed of—money, power, and the admiration of all who meet him.

But the past has a way of catching up. When Jackson saves a reality TV star from an armed attack, the ensuing media frenzy threatens to thrust him into the public eye and expose his carefully crafted facade. As investigative journalists and enemies—both real and imagined—close in, Jackson finds himself tangled in a web of escalating threats. To make matters worse, an old nemesis from the very backstory he fabricated resurfaces, adding a dangerous layer of irony to his predicament.

As Jackson navigates these challenges, his double life begins to unravel, forcing him to face a question he’s avoided for years: is he truly the man he’s pretended to be?

Packed with explosive action, sharp humor, and a surprising emotional depth, The Merc is a modern fable about ambition, the reinvention of identity, and the high cost of living a lie. Will Jackson’s audacious charade be his ultimate downfall—or his greatest triumph?

'Formerly under option with Pause n Rewind Studios

THE MERC: FAKE TALES OF A REAL MAN